UCA mourns with our partners in wake of Lombok earthquakes

In the aftermath of the powerful earthquake that struck the Indonesian island of Lombok, UnitingWorld and the Uniting Church in Australia mourn alongside our Indonesian partners at the tragic loss of life.

Since the magnitude-6.9 earthquake hit on August 5, the death toll has risen to 347 according to local Indonesian media, and tens of thousands have been left homeless by the damages.

Bali also experienced strong tremors on Sunday night but thankfully no deaths were recorded, and damage was minimal.

UnitingWorld National Director Dr Sureka Goringe has expressed heartfelt sympathy for those who have lost loved ones and commended the work of the Bali Church in helping their neighbours in Lombok during the crisis.

“We’ve been close contact with our partners and we are heartened to hear that their congregations are raising funds to support the recovery work in Lombok,” said Dr Goringe.

“We celebrate our partner’s prompt and compassionate response and offer our prayers for all in Lombok who have been tragically affected. We also pray for all the professionals and volunteers helping the affected communities.”

MBM, the social work foundation of the Protestant Christian Church in Bali is working with other non-government agencies and helping to mobilise volunteers to support the recovery. The Indonesian Communion of Churches is also responding with funds for the rescue and recovery efforts.

Our partners are not currently seeking donations from abroad.

Uniting Church in Australia President Dr Deidre Palmer has invited all congregations to pray for the families of the victims and the recovery efforts.

Please pray alongside our church partners in Indonesia for those who’ve lost loved ones, those who’ve lost homes, and for all the people responding to this disaster.

Prayer

Rev. Dr Apwee Ting of the Uniting Church Assembly Resourcing Unit has written this prayer for Lombok in English and Bahasa Indonesia.

Berdoa buat Lombok

Ketika bumi menggeliat

membangunkan manusia yang terlelap

oleh mimpi mengejar hidup

Ketika isak tangis kepedihan manusia

yang ditinggal oleh yang terkasih

Kita tersentak, merenung dan bengong

kekasih hati, mutiara hidup telah hilang

kembali kepada Sang Empunya hidup

Kesunyian, kesenyapan dan kesendirian

sekarang menguasai hidup

hidup tidak lagi bermakna seperti kemarin

Dengan doa dan solidaritas

kuulurkan cinta dan kasih yang ada

merangkul engkau yang sendirian ditengah reruntuhan

Lombok, kusebut namamu

didalam doa ku kepada Sang Pencipta hidup.

Lombok, kuulurkan tanganku

bersama berjalan dan berbagi derita

Lombok,

Kepada mu ku berdoa kepada Tuhan kita.

Amin

Prayer for Lombok

When the earth writhed

waking up people

from their dreams of pursuing life

When we heard of human pain

who has lost their loved one

We gasped, pondered and stunned

sweetheart, the pearl of life has been lost

back to God who created life

Silence,

emptiness and solitude

now master life

life is no longer meaningful like yesterday

With prayer and solidarity

I extend love and care

embracing you

who are alone in the midst of the ruins

Lombok, I said your name

in my prayer to the Creator of life.

Lombok, I extended my heart and hands

Let us walk together to share our pain

Lombok,

To God we pray together.

Amen

UnitingWorld is the international aid and partnerships agency of the Uniting Church in Australia. Our partner church in Bali is the Gereja Kristen Protestan di Bali (Protestant Christian Church in Bali), who we work alongside on projects to empower women and alleviate poverty in rural Bali. Read more | See more (video).